Bill Arrington Was Humble Local Activist

OBITUARIES

January 24, 1999|By Susan Jacobson of The Sentinel Staff

Citrus co-op manager William S. ``Bill'' Arrington was known for his quiet ways and devotion to family and community. Working behind the scenes, he spent much of his life trying to make West Orange County a better place to live.

Arrington, of Oakland, died Friday in his sleep after a lengthy illness. He was 86.

Born in Anderson, S.C., Arrington grew up in the tiny South Carolina town of Kirksey, where his father owned a cotton gin. He studied textile engineering at Clemson University for two years but was forced to quit to look for work during the Great Depression, said his son, William S. ``Billy'' Arrington III of Winter Haven.

Arrington moved to Eustis in the early 1930s. He found work at a citrus packinghouse in Tavares and met his future wife, who was managing a Western Union office. They celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary two days before his death.

Arrington worked his way up in the citrus business from truck driver to grove supervisor, production manager and general manager. He retired as general manager for the South Lake Apopka Citrus Growers Association in 1980.

But his community activism is what friends and family admire most. Arrington was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Winter Garden Rotary Club, an honor given to Rotarians who display outstanding character and community service.

He was a trustee of West Orange Memorial Hospital, now Health Central, for many years and a member of the Oakland Town Council in the 1960s and '70s.

Arrington was active in the West Orange Scholarship Foundation, which helped needy high school students go to college. He also was a founding member of the West Orange Country Club.

``He was a good golfer and one of the true gentlemen,'' said Don Hickman of West Orange County, who has known Arrington for 35 years. ``Nobody ever said anything bad about Bill because he was always nice to everybody. He was just a wonderful man.''

Although his contributions to the community were substantial, Arrington didn't crave recognition.

``He's the last one in the world who would want to be eulogized,'' said his wife, Mildred, 82. ``He was very quiet, very low-profile.''

In addition to his wife and older son, Arrington is survived by son Charles H., Charleston, S.C.; sister Irma Dorn, New Smyrna Beach, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home in Winter Garden is handling the arrangements.